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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Romanian and French presidents Klaus Iohannis and Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian PM Mario Draghi went on Thursday to Ukraine, in a historic joint visit, meant to underline European solidarity with that country, devastated by the Russian invasion. The four European leaders went to Irpin, near Kiev, one of the places afflicted by Russian atrocities, where they denounced the unimaginable human tragedy and appalling destruction. The joint visit comes ahead of the EU summit next week, which will decide the fate of Ukraine as a candidate to the Union. This was demanded by Kiev, in part to raise the morale of battle weary Ukrainians. The four leaders are in favor of immediate accession of the new candidate state, as announced in Kiev by Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the semester presidency of the European Union Council. Scholz, Macron, Iohannis, and Draghi expressed their support for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The French president said that, right from the start of the war, his country lived up scrupulously to its commitments, and supported Ukraine in all areas. Also, he announced that Paris would deliver to Kiev six more Caesar artillery pieces, famous for their precision. The Italian PM also expressed his support for investigating the alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The German chancellor said his country would continue supporting that country, for as long as necessary. In Kiev, President Iohannis said that Romania is actively taking part in facilitating the transit of grain exports from Ukraine, acting as a regional hub for those supplies. The head of state called for convening a coalition of states to support the international effort to create blue corridors for safe maritime passage in the Black Sea. At the same time, he claimed as essential granting the status of EU candidate state to Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, as well as Georgia, in next weeks European Council meeting. On Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron met with troops deployed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in southeast Romania. Iohannis said that, against the background of the crisis created by Russias military aggression in Ukraine, cooperation between Romania and France in terms of security has shown of late a special and welcome enhancement. He thanked once again for the presence of French soldiers, and for the fact that France has taken on a leading role in the recently created NATO battle group in Romania. Also, the Romanian and French presidents gave priority to speaking about the need to consolidate the deterrence and defense posture on the Eastern flank, especially around the Black Sea. They also spoke about the alliances new strategic concept, and about the prospects of Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Emmanuel Macron also remarked that Romanian-French relations, two countries in a strategic partnership, is based on a friendship that goes back two centuries.

Leyla Cheamil, 18.06.2022, 02:22

Natural gas from the Black Sea

Romania has started natural gas extraction from the Black Sea in the Midia perimeter. The first batches reached the National Transportation System. This year, a half a billion cubic meters of gas is estimated to be produced. Midia is the first new project for natural gas extraction from the continental shelf that Romania has in the Black sea in the last 30 years, and will cover 10% of domestic demand.

Emergency executive orders issued in Bucharest

An emergency executive order on combating speculation was passed by the government in Bucharest, after last week the document was debated in first reading. The aim is to protect end consumers, and the good running of markets. Also on Thursday, the government adopted another emergency executive order, according to which state sector hiring would be suspended starting on July 1. This provides that no more competitions for positions be held until the end of this year. According to the government, this is needed in order to cut down on expenses incurred for running public institutions.

Former Minister of Tourism Elena Udrea is extradited by Bulgarian authorities

Former Minister of Tourism Elena Udrea has been brought from Bulgaria to Romania, where she will serve a six year sentence in the so-called Gala Bute case, for bribe taking and abuse of office. In April, on the day of the final sentencing, Udrea left the country, but was apprehended in Bulgaria, while she was trying to reach Greece. On June 10, the Court of Appeal in Sofia acquiesced to the request from Romanian authorities to extradite the former government minister. In Romania, Elena Udrea also has on the books a case for illegal financing of the presidential election campaign of 2009. In the first trail, she got an eight year prison sentence. Udrea was a close associate of former right wing president of the country, Traian Basescu. The latter was confirmed recently as a former collaborator of the Securitate, the communist political police.

The Romanian national soccer squad in freefall

The Romanian national soccer squad is last in place in a group led by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League, and risks playing, starting last year, in the third group of the competition. On Tuesday evening, the team was crushed 3-0 by Montenegro, in Bucharest. Romania had lost the first leg 2-0. So far, the team had three defeats, two against Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the latter doling out one of the most crushing defeats suffered by Romanias representatives at home. Their only victory was also at home, 1-0 against Finland.